Mechanical connection



March 25, 1941. E, C. BEST 2,235,976

MECHANICAL CONNECTION Filed Aug. 5, 1958 INVENTOR. .Franlf 6'. Bea! mxmATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25. 1941 r 2 235 97 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMECHANICAL CONNECTEON Frank 0. Best, Detroit, Mich., assignor to PackardMotor Car Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan lApplication August 3, 1938, serial No. 222,881 4 Claims. (Cl. 287-401)This invention relates to mechanical connecformed in a different mannerif so desired. At tions and more particularly to link connections oneend of the lever H there is formed a semi- :in actuating mechanisms.spherical depressed portion l5 and at one end of It is an object of theinvention to provide a the link 14 there is formed a semi-spherical de-5 mechanical connection in which a pair of links pressed portion l6,such depressed portions being 5 can be readily connected ordisconnected. complementary in order that they may be nested Anotherobject of the invention is to provide together to provide a pivotalconnection. The a mechanical connection that can be manufacportion it ofthe link is of such dimensions that tured and assembled at low cost. theremaining portion will be spaced a slight Still another object of theinvention is to prodistance from the lever thus allowing for piv- 1 videa stamped sheet metal linkage in which a otal movement inaplurality ofangles. pair of links are readily secured together in piv- Securing thenested portions l5 and Hi tootal relation by an applied clip retainer.gether is retainer means I'I. As shown in Figs. 1, A further object ofthe invention is to provide 2 and 3, this retainer is a stamped U-shapedfor the pivotal connection of a pair of links clip having spring arms l8and I9 that can be 15 through means of a resilient connector that cansprung to engage over the nested portions l5 be snapped into or out ofretaining relation with and IS. The arm I8 is formed with a depressionthe links. that enters the depressed portion l6 and link Other objectsof the invention will appea o I4 and serves as an anchor for theretainer. The 20 the following description taken in connection springpressure of t resilient arms la and |9 20 W h t e d which forms a p ofthis against the nested portions l5 and IE will rep q fi i and in h tainthe link I4 and lever II in pivotal relation- 8 Perspective View of smechamcal ship. The pressure exertedby the arms l8 and or connection I cp n the invention; I9 is suiiicient to securely maintain the connec-Fig. 2 1s a sectional view of the actuator mechtion and W111automaticauy take up wear and anism taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form ofthe invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing anothermodifiedform of the invention.

The invention is illustrated as forming a part of actuator mechanism forcontrolling a carburetor for a motor, but it will be understood that theinvention can be employed equally as well for any mechanical connectionin which a pair of prevent lost motion and rattles. At the same time itwill allow pivotal movement without the exertion of a considerableforce. The spring clip can be readily assembled or disassembled from thenested portions as its arms will give readily when pressure is exertedin pushing or pulling the base portion of the clip.

In Fig. 2 the depressed portions l5 and iii of the link and lever are ofconical form but they links are retained in pivotal relationship arecomplementary so that they can be associated ted relation. In this formof the invention In the carburetor control mechanism illustrated, m l0designates a valve carrying shaft that isfixed to h 611p 1s Substantmuythe a a shown m one end of a lever II. The end 12 of the shaft exm 2 andhas ship with the 40 tends through an irregular opening in the link lmke lever- Wlth ihls mm P the mvsntmn 40 and has its end upset to secureit in fixed relathe lmk and lever are free to PY m one tion with thelever. An actuator lever l3 in the plane and for some purposes thls 15Sufficlentform of a bent rod is pivotally connected at one f 4 PheleverH *P link M are fPrmed with end to a link '4, and the lever H and linkl4 semi-spherical depressions I5 and IS in substanare pivotallyconnected together. tially the same manner as in Fig. 2, but with this45 This invention has to do with the connections form of the v on heretaining or clip means between the elements of the actuator mechaisformed as an integral P o the l nk. The nism and provides a structurethat can be readily link is formed with an extended portion t tassembled or disassembled and manufactured at is doubled back to providea resilient rm 5 that 5 low cost. is capable of snapping over thedepressed portion The connectilon between th lever H and link l5 oflever H to maintain the semi-spherical del4, and the connection betweenthe links I4 and pressed portions in frictional pivotal relationship.lever l3 are generally similar. As shown in the In this form of theinvention the link H and drawing, the lever H and link [4 are shown aslever l4, adjacent the nested portions, are slightly sheet metalstampings, however, they can be sp so that the W links can p v t l rly55 in a plurality of directions the same as in the structure shown inFig. 2.

The connection between the lever l3 and link M can be the same as thatpreviously described, and in any of the various forms.

The control mechanism herein described can be made mainly from stampedmembers and held in pivotal relationship by retaining means formed as aseparate stamping or as a part of one of the members. The connection canbe readily made or broken when desired due to the resiliency of theretaining clip means. Various angular relationships can be obtainedbetween the two connected members which in some instances is necessary,or the members can be connected so that they pivot in only one plane.The structure lends itself to low cost of initial manufacture and ofassembly and disassembly while at the same time providing a connectionthat will sufliciently retain the links together during use. The clipconnection will automatically take up wear of the members and preventlost motion and rattle.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous otherapplications which will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. Theinvention is therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an actuator mechanism, a pair of members having complementarpressed-out joint forming portions at one end, said joint formingportions being nested together in pivotal relation, and a self retainingresilient member havin arms adapted to be sprung over the nested endportions of the members holding them together in frictional pivotalengagement, one of said arms having a pressed-out portion nested in thepressedout portion of one of said members.

2. In an actuator mechanism, a pair of sheet metal members havingcomplementary semispherical pressed-out portions adapted to be arrangedin nested relation, and a freely applied self retaining resilient clipengaging opposite faces of said nested portions of the members.

3. In an actuator mechanism, a pair of members having complementarysemi-spherical portions, said portions being nested together to allowpivotal movement of the members relatively in a plurality of angulardirections, and a self retaining sprin clip having flexible arms sprungto engage opposite sides of the nested portions to hold said memberstogether, said clip being freely applied to or removed from saidportions when its arms are sprung.

4. In an actuator mechanism, a pair of members having complementarypressed-out portions adapted to be nested in pivotal relationship, and aU-clip having resilient arms engaging the nested portions of saidmembers, one of the arms being formed with a pressed-out portion adaptedto seat in the pressed-out portion of one of the members.

FRANK C. BEST.

